After switching to a new building this year, the school found that it was in need of more space for its 650-student body. So, the school, which is located on 65th Drive in Middle Village, acquired an ancient and abandoned tobacco warehouse across the street and made it the home of their new annex.
With generous cooperation from New York Cares, the largest volunteer organization in the city, and funding from Price Waterhouse Coopers, the school was able to initiate a marvelous renovation of its newest building.
“New York Cares wanted to transform this dull building into a bright and engaging place for students to come,” said Dennis Tseng, corporate service officer for New York Cares.
The new annex will be housing grades pre-K and 1st grade, and the murals will all be at the young students' eye-level, some so low that adults will pass them without even noticing.
In the cafeteria there is paintings of food and drink, while the outside of the building is bright and enticing with colorful words of educational terms such as math and science.
The entranceway looks like a warm sunrise, and within the halls you will see happy students smiling along the walls.
“This is my first volunteer project and I’m happy to be doing this for the kids,” said volunteer Geraldine Panis, 22, a student at Adelphi University.
PWC and NYC’s main goals are to make sure that the renovations of the buildings are exciting and engaging for the students, as well as safe and equipped with the necessary tools for students to learn.
“We’ve saved the school about $10,000 to $12,000 of labor, and Price Waterhouse Cooper made sure that we would do this right” added Tseng.


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